Insights & Inspiration: Joy

About The Author

This article was written by Gini Grey, who is a
Transformational Coach, utilizing a powerful blend of coaching,
counseling and spiritual energy tools in her individual sessions,
workshops, books and CD's. For more information go to
www.ginigrey.com.

Insights & Inspiration: Joy

Have you ever woken up with a sense of inner excitement for no
apparent reason? Gone through your day beaming from the inside out?
Felt a sense of ease and peacefulness no matter what the circumstance?
This is what true joy feels like to me.

We all get glimpses of this state when things go our way; when an
ideal job opportunity is offered, a perfect gift is given, money is
building in the bank account. But what happens when a customer is
unsatisfied, a loved one forgets our birthday, the bills are higher
than the income? Our joy usually gets sucked right out of us and is
replaced by frustration or disappointment. This is because we were
getting our joy from external events instead of from within ourselves.

When we tune into the essence of joy within us and bring it wherever
we go, we stop feeling like a yo-yo being bounced around by external
situations and people. We carry a light of warmth to blanket any
situation we encounter. We have an inner smile and giggle that tells
us the Universe is not conspiring against us.

Underneath the layers of masks we wear, roles we play, and defenses we
carry, we are in a natural state of joy, love and amusement. The core
of our being doesn't take life half as seriously as our egos do. Our
true self knows that life is a journey to be experienced, and what we
bring to it is just as important as what we get from it.

Insights

* What does joy feel like to you? How would you describe it - does
it feel like love, playfulness, confidence or...? Does it feel
soft, strong, robust or gentle? Does it change over time?

* Reflect over your life to notice the times you felt joyful. What
was going on? Was it because of external circumstances or for no
apparent reason or because you were in a peaceful centered
state?

* What knocks the joy right out of you? What brings it back? How
often would you like to feel joy? What will it take to feel joy
on a regular basis?

Inspiration

* Tune into the state of joy by remembering a joyful time or just
touching into the essence of joy within you. Let this feeling
fill your whole body from head to toe and down into the
cells. Turn up the volume on it until it is shining outward from
you and you are beaming with a smile on your face. Know that
this is yours to have whenever you want.

* Set your intention each day to be in a state of joy. Get it
flowing within you at the beginning of the day and cue yourself
to return to it throughout the day (with post-it-notes
etc.). Notice how much more energetic and healthy you feel
during the day.

* Whenever a setback occurs in your life, notice your
disappointment and any feelings that arise. Once you have
processed these, feel underneath for the essence of joy and let
it blanket and support you, reminding you that you're okay and
that an upswing is just around the corner.

"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your
smile can be the source of your joy."